Committee adopts substitute giving applicants path to court after agency appeals

The House Committee on Economic Competitiveness adopted an H‑1 substitute to House Bill 5499 after sponsor Representative DeBoer told the panel the measure would allow an applicant who exhausted an agency appeals process to seek review in circuit court and recover legal fees if successful.

"It allows them to go to court ... and it allows them to recoup legal costs and fees if they prevail in their action," Representative DeBoer said, describing the bill as a way to create a "level playing field" for applicants who believe a permit was wrongfully denied.

Committee members questioned whether the change would require additional department staff; sponsors said the bill focuses on process and is not intended to create new full-time positions. Representative Altman asked whether other states provide the same access to court, and DeBoer said he would follow up with research comparing practices in other states.

As with HB5498, multiple written statements were read into the record in support from industry groups and in opposition from several environmental organizations. The committee chair said members may bring further questions to bill sponsors before the committee's planned vote next week.

The H‑1 substitute was adopted on the record; committee members did not take final passage on the floor during this session.